Patents Examined by Tung Minh Bui
  • Patent number: 6088221
    Abstract: A carrier assembly is provided for supporting a hot-pluggable hard disk drive and is slidably and removably insertable into a sheet metal cage structure to operatively mount the disk drive therein and releasably mate an SCA connector on the drive to a corresponding electrical backplane connector within the cage. The carrier assembly includes a base wall upon which a pair of upstanding side wall structures are captively retained for pivotal movement toward and away from opposite side edge portions of the base wall. Each of the pivotal side wall structures captively retains a pair of mounting screws. With the side wall structures in their outwardly pivoted orientations, the disk drive is placed atop the base wall, the side wall structures are pivoted inwardly against corresponding opposite side walls of the disk drive, and the mounting screws are tightened into aligned threaded openings in the opposing disk drive side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: David F. Bolognia
  • Patent number: 6084768
    Abstract: A hot-pluggable hard disk drive is supported on a carrier structure for removable insertion into a sheet metal cage structure in a manner such that an SCA connector on the rear end of the drive is releasably mateable with a corresponding backplane connector within the cage. The carrier has a bottom side with opposite side edge portions from which resilient shock-absorbing foot members downwardly project to protect the carrier-supported disk drive from non-operational shock when the bottom of the carrier is inadvertently permitted to downwardly strike a horizontal support surface such as a table or workbench. Upwardly projecting side wall portions of the carrier are positioned generally over the protective feet, on opposite sides of the supported disk drive, and have top side edges downwardly offset from the top side of the disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: David F. Bolognia
  • Patent number: 6078499
    Abstract: An improved primary to secondary heat pipe thermal transfer connector for a hinged electronic apparatus package is achieved through the use of a thermal transfer block with a sleeve positioned on the hinge centerline of a hinged apparatus package and in a groove in the thermal transfer block. The primary heat pipe end is fused into the thermal transfer block and all secondary heat pipe ends are fused into the sleeve. The contact interface between the thermal transfer block and the sleeve is spring loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Shungwei Mok
  • Patent number: 6075693
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and method for securing a computer system. A security loop or tab is attached to a computer chassis and used to engage a cover that encloses at least a portion of a side of the computer chassis. Structure is provided in embodiments of the invention to releasably engage the cover with the security tab and to provide a means of locking the cover on the chassis to prevent unauthorized access to the computer system. Additionally, the securing apparatus is place in a location not readily visible to users of the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Leman
  • Patent number: 6028767
    Abstract: An externally connected expansion device with replaceable guiding face panel for guiding different portable computers. The expansion device has a guiding seat body in which the guiding face panel is replaceable in accordance with the height from the bases to the connectors of different portable computers. In addition, two sides of the guiding face panel respectively disposed with a stopper member in accordance with the PCMCIA socket and/or MODEM socket of different models of portable computers so as to seal the socket and achieve a protective effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Compal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chuan-Chi Lan